5 Best Travel Tripods Under $100

A tripod is a must-have camera accessory if you want your photos to be picture-perfect, especially when traveling. These travel tripods are lightweight and compact. More importantly, they can fit easily into your carry-on bag or travel backpack. The best part is that you can use a phone adapter and shoot photos with your smartphone and camera. So whether it’s a self-portrait or a long-exposure photo, all you need to do is place your phone/camera on the tripod and get going.

Apart from providing the necessary stability, a good travel tripod also gives you a better frame. And let’s not forget that stable photos appear much sharper.

So if you are in the market looking for some cheap travel tripods under $100, here are our best recommendations.

Let’s get going, shall we? But first,

1. Sensyne Phone Tripod

The Sensyne Phone Tripod is the one for you if you want an inexpensive yet functional tripod. The highlight of this phone tripod is its flexibility. The legs can twist, and you can fix it to bike handles or railings. So if you often like to go cycling on your holidays, this tripod is an affordable way to record your videos.

At the same time, the short legs mean that you can place this on tables and benches. So if you are alone in a coffee shop and want to take on a view, you can use this tripod to take a self-portrait.

It’s sturdy and does its job as advertised. And the 360-degree ball-head ensures you can take on any view with minimal hassles. The tripod itself is lightweight and barely weighs 150g. At the same time, the additional remote makes it easy to click photos. The good news is that the remote is compatible with Android phones.

The Sensyne phone tripod has raked in good reviews from its user base. People like its affordable price tag and easy-to-use features.

2. UBeesize Camera Tripod

The UBeesize camera tripod is a traditional camera tripod that can hold a conventional camera and extend to full height. It’s a 3-section tripod with a 3-height adjustment. And when folded, it measures just 26-inch. This small dimension makes it very convenient to fit into luggage. Moreover, the full height of 67-inch ensures that you can take on any scene and scenery without using external factors like tables and benches. Plus, the built-in bubble level ensures that your camera is level against the ground.

At the same time, the 3-sections and the 3-height adjustable options make it easy to adjust the height. It’s easy to deploy, and the lightweight design makes it easy to use while traveling. For its price, it’s a stable tripod, and several users have remarked about this in their reviews. However, test it out on your camera before you take it out for a spin.

That said, it can handle any terrain, and the stable feet add to its stability. Plus, it’s a versatile product for its price. For now, it bundles a phone adapter, travel bag, and remote.

Thanks to its price, this tripod has amassed more than 7,000 ratings on Amazon. It’s sturdy and lightweight, which makes it a great pick for travel enthusiasts.

3. Joby JB01507 GorillaPod

If you are into shooting travel vlogs, you can’t go wrong with the Joby JB01507 GorillaPod. The highlight of this small but nifty tripod is its flexible legs that allow you to wrap them around anything, whether it’s a tree branch, a bike handle, or a railing. It’s a sturdy travel tripod. And even though it looks small, it can take up weight up to 3 kilos.

The flexible legs mean you can take photos from myriad angles. As long as the built-in bubble level is even, you can rest assured that photos will appear symmetrical and sharp. The legs can also be straightened and used like a conventional desktop tripod. Furthermore, the magnetic feet allow you to attach this camera accessory to horizontal metal surfaces. And yes, you can also use it as a selfie stick to take selfies.

Aside from that, it comes with all the bells and whistles, like a 360-degree rotating head and 90-degree tilt. The high-quality build ensures that it will last long, provided you take good care of it.

Again, it’s a versatile tripod and works well with both phones and cameras. Just ensure you get hold of a good phone adapter, and you will be in the clear.

4. Manfrotto Compact Action Tripod Kit

Manfrotto is a good name in the world of camera accessories for its quality products, and the compact action tripod kit is no different. It’s a tad more expensive than its counterparts above. However, it brings an interesting mix of features to the table. For one, the fluid head ensures that you get a smooth pan and tilt. And this makes for great videos and photos. Secondly, it can carry loads up to 3.3lbs. As per one of the users, they could mount a Sony A6400 camera and a Tamron 70-180mm lens without any issues.

The tripod is stable and lets you shoot sharp photos. The adjustable height legs and the lockable feet mean you get the angle and height of your preference. Comparatively, it’s a little heavier with a durable design and sturdy build. And yes, it’s easy to deploy.

Though it has earned considerably good reviews from its user base, with people praising its lightweight and durable build, the plastic clamp tends to give way soon. Aside from that, you can use both your phone and camera. If you are looking for a quality tripod for iPhone photography (and the occasional camera) and do not mind paying a premium, it’s a good pick.

5. MAKE A Carbon Fiber Tripod

Another travel tripod for below $100 is the one by AOKA. The highlight of this tripod is its carbon fiber body, unlike the ones above. The carbon fiber translates into a lightweight but stable body. If we talk number, this one weighs just 1.1lb and has a load capacity of up to 5.5lb. That makes it apt to carry both camera & lens combos and your iPhone.

When folded, it measures just 12-inches which makes it convenient to carry even if you are hopping from one tourist place to another. When unfolded, it can extend to 28-inches, giving you enough wriggle space to shoot portraits, landscapes, and self-portraits. Plus, the flexible design means you can extend the legs horizontally, thus making it easy to shoot from a low height.

The lightweight and compact build have earned its share of positive reviews. Tilting and panning the tripod is smooth and simple. So if you are looking for a tripod to carry with you on your hiking trips or your next travel trip, you won’t go wrong with this one. Ensure that the camera and lens combo is balanced since there’s no space to hook any counterweights.

Lights, Camera, Action!

Traveling solo or in a small group means you have to make arrangements so that your photos and videos come out as you want them to be. And in the days of Instagram, you can’t afford to shoot blurry or off-center photos, whether you are handling a conventional camera or a phone. And lightweight travel tripod like the ones above makes it possible.

The best thing when traveling is to buy a universal phone holder/adapter so that it’s easy and convenient to shoot in places with high footfalls.

So which one of these will you buy?